Chen Mianmian felt that her pregnancy would not be a pleasant surprise for Zhao Lingcheng—it would be a shock.
She needed to seriously think about how to convince her ex-husband that the child was his.
In the original story, the father and daughter recognized each other through a blood type test, but now Niuniu hadn’t even been born yet.
And before the divorce, the original host had caused quite a scandal.
She asked Zhao Hui, “Aunt, the police checked my movements over the past six months. There’s no problem, right?”
In the past few days, the Quancheng Public Security Bureau had set up a special task force and investigated Chen Mianmian’s whereabouts.
Zhao Hui smiled. “You went on a blind date with Wei Cuiyun and even took care of his mother in the hospital?”
Then she added, “Wei Cuiyun was once a hero in the anti-bandit campaign. He’s one of us. And that happened after your divorce, so it’s not a big issue.”
Section Chief Wei, full name Wei Cuiyun, was a former military officer who had crushed bandits in Haixi—an impressive figure.
If it had only been a blind date after the divorce, it wouldn’t matter.
But in reality, he and the original host had met during the marriage, and he had been the trigger for the divorce.
That was last September. The original host had just graduated from the Hongzhuan School and was about to start working.
Her family constantly complained about being poor and asked her for supplies, but Zhao Lingcheng’s work rations were far from enough.
So she wanted to work at a department store, where there were steady supplies she could send home.
But the job required her husband’s recommendation, and at that time Zhao Lingcheng had already moved into his work unit.
It was Xu Xiaomei who gave her the idea—go complain to the leadership and force Zhao Lingcheng to move back home.
After that, the original host behaved perfectly—cooking, cleaning, studying, practicing calligraphy.
They still slept in separate rooms, keeping their distance.
But one night, Zhao Lingcheng was restless and couldn’t sleep.
After getting up to use the toilet, he came back to find the original host naked in his bed.
He knew that if he helped her get the department store job, she might eventually end up imprisoned for corruption.
So he slept with her—but afterward refused to take responsibility and still wouldn’t write the recommendation letter.
With no other option, the original host went to Xu Xiaomei for advice.
At that time, Xu Xiaomei was caring for Section Chief Wei’s paralyzed mother in the hospital, hoping to secure opportunities for her brothers.
The original host, though uneducated, was excellent at caregiving. She rolled up her sleeves and cleaned the old woman thoroughly, making her very comfortable.
Seeing this, Wei Cuiyun sighed, “Such a good woman—if only she were my wife.”
He was a hero, and the original host admired him. Xu Xiaomei noticed this and came up with a scheme.
When the original host returned to the base, the cotton coat incident broke out. Xu Xiaomei encouraged her to divorce and created opportunities for her and Wei Cuiyun.
And at that time, the original host—already pregnant—had a period.
Yes, she had bleeding in early pregnancy.
Normally, she was extremely frugal and used plant ash as sanitary material.
But out of anger toward Zhao Lingcheng, she used his toilet paper that time—and he saw the evidence.
She had bleeding before the divorce. How could he believe the child was his?
Chen Mianmian, with her experience handling cases, analyzed calmly: that wasn’t menstruation—it was a threatened miscarriage.
She had a strong constitution, and Niuniu was resilient. Though there was bleeding, the pregnancy continued.
Unfortunately, the original host had no experience and thought it was a period.
Now, with a big belly, trying to get her ex-husband to accept her—she needed a plan.
After Niuniu was born, they could test blood types. Then she could return to Quancheng, join the steel factory, and work.
But just as Chen Mianmian was planning enthusiastically, her lower abdomen moved again.
She knew maternal feelings were driven by hormones, but when she placed her hand there, she could clearly feel the baby’s tiny hand brushing against her palm, trembling slightly.
Niuniu wasn’t even born yet, but the thought of being separated in the future made Chen Mianmian deeply sad.
…
Wu Jingjing had thought their friendship was just a brief encounter, but she didn’t expect Chen Mianmian to come back with gifts.
“I don’t want them. You’re pregnant—keep them,” she said.
Chen Mianmian shoved the milk powder and cake into her arms and sniffed. “Xu Xiaomei made you clean the latrine, didn’t she?”
Wu Jingjing smelled like excrement—she had clearly been assigned to clean the cesspit.
She shrugged it off. “Just petty tricks. I’m the child of a martyr—they can’t fire me.”
Jiang and Xu Xiaomei were working together to make things difficult for her.
Chen Mianmian held her hand. “If you could transfer to the steel factory, you wouldn’t have to worry about them, right?”
If Wu Jingjing hadn’t opened the cesspit lid, Xu Cigang wouldn’t have been caught.
But he still had two brothers, and Xu Xiaomei wasn’t easy to deal with. Chen Mianmian worried Wu Jingjing would suffer.
If she could be transferred, it would remove future risks.
Wu Jingjing sighed. “A place like the steel factory? We can’t get in.”
Chen Mianmian couldn’t either. She looked at Zhao Hui. “Aunt, can you help?”
Zhao Hui’s current concern was still Xu Xiaomei’s militia brothers.
Some of Zhao’s relatives were undergoing labor reform in Quancheng.
Even though policies required fair treatment, once in labor camps, survival wasn’t guaranteed.
There was only so much Zhao Hui could do. She told the driver, “Go back to the steel factory.”
Then to Wu Jingjing, “I can’t promise, but I’ll try.”
Wu Jingjing bowed repeatedly in thanks. “Thank you in advance!”
She ran alongside the car, shouting, “When the baby is born, I want to be the godmother!”
…
On the way out of the city, the driver suddenly slammed the brakes.
Chen Mianmian saw Wang Ximei.
The woman cursed with bearing daughters—eight in a row.
She was only fifty-six but had bound feet and looked much older.
At the credit cooperative, she and Chen Huandi were fighting Xu Xiaomei.
It seemed they had discovered the truth—the bankbook was invalid, and Xu Xiaomei had taken the money.
After both daughters married, Wang Ximei often pretended to be sick to extract money and food, all to support her son Chen Jinhui.
She had already given a lot. How could she tolerate her daughter-in-law stealing her savings?
And the life-saving medicine her daughter gave her—Xu Xiaomei had taken it for her own mother.
A brother-obsessed woman versus a son-protecting fanatic—the clash was explosive.
…
Private travel to the base required a special train.
The station was separate and under military control.
Zhao Hui carried all the bedding and luggage. Chen Mianmian only needed to take care of herself.
The attendants were also military personnel and very attentive.
Only after boarding and seeing Zhao Hui in uniform did Chen Mianmian realize—she was an Air Force senior colonel.
Zhao Hui had arranged a soft sleeper so she could lie down comfortably.
She even got special soybean milk for military families.
As the train moved, farmland gave way to saline pastures.
By late April, the Qilian Mountains were still snow-covered, while the Gobi showed patches of green.
Sheep grazed under the clouds.
Zhao Hui suddenly said, “Our work means we can’t help you much in daily life. The base doesn’t allow hiring nannies. You’re so capable, yet you’ll have to be a full-time mother. I’m sorry.”
The Gobi seemed endless, the sky gray, but Chen Mianmian felt clarity.
Before transmigrating, she had earned millions. She knew that in any era, capable people could make money.
If she worked at the steel factory and took on extra jobs, she could afford help.
But what if Niuniu, a genius child, was mistreated?
Better to give birth at the base and raise her herself.
She was the child’s mother. If she didn’t love her, who would?
Strangely, as she thought this, the baby moved again—as if reassured she wouldn’t be abandoned.
Hormones made her emotional, but she made a decision.
Niuniu would recognize her father—but she would raise her herself.
And just like that, her mood lifted.
…
Though the original host had lived at the base before, to Chen Mianmian it felt like a new world.
A desert oasis—a small city with clean roads and tall poplar trees.
After getting off the train, they immediately took a bus to the hospital.
Doctor Gu, the most experienced doctor, examined her.
Despite her objections, he performed an internal check.
Removing his gloves, he said, “Breech position. Placenta previa.”
Zhao Hui nodded. “Placenta previa often leads to difficult labor.”
Doctor Gu said, “Cesarean section.”
Chen Mianmian thought that was fine—less pain.
But Zhao Hui’s eyes reddened. “My second sister-in-law died from infection after a cesarean. The baby didn’t survive either.”
Doctor Gu reassured her. “That was in wartime conditions. Now our medical standards are as good as the capital.”
Zhao Hui nodded but added, “If there’s danger, save the mother first.”
Doctor Gu smiled. “It’s not that serious yet.”
Zhao Hui held Chen Mianmian’s hand. “If Lingcheng treats you badly, I’ll beat him up.”
Having experienced such loss, she was especially sensitive.
But in this era, a cesarean was still a life-and-death gamble.
Chen Mianmian was risking everything for the Zhao family—if Zhao Lingcheng mistreated her, Zhao Hui wouldn’t allow it.
…
The Gobi did have an end.
Beyond it lay a vast desert.
By a green oasis, under the setting sun, Zhao Lingcheng received orders to return.
He packed his radio equipment onto his motorcycle.
Before leaving, he looked back.
Blue sky, green water, golden sand—just him and the hum of the radio.
He deeply enjoyed his single life and his work.